Another word used in the Bible to convey the thought of an awakening of the dead to life is “restoration.” In the King James Translation it is “restitution.” The New World Translation speaks of it as the “restoration of all things which God spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets of old time.” (Acts 3:21) How comprehensive this is—the prophets foretold the restoration of all things, including, as we have seen, the Edomites, the Elamites, the Israelites, and many others—all. One of the proof texts quoted by Peter as an example of what the prophets had written on the subject of restoration is the promise made to Abraham that through his seed all the families of the earth were to be blessed.

As another proof text, Peter cites the prophecy of Moses recorded in Deuteronomy 18:18,19, concerning a “Prophet” whom the Lord would raise up to the people of his day, from among their brethren of a later generation, saying that they would have the opportunity of hearing that Prophet. In order for this to be fulfilled the Israelites of Moses’ day, to whom the promise was first made, must be raised from the dead. It was for this reason that Peter quoted it. He was showing that it would be fulfilled through Christ during the time of his second presence, hence that it demanded the resurrection of the dead.

The people who heard Peter deliver this sermon understood it just as he wished them to do. Verses 1 and 2 of the next chapter reveal this, stating that the “priests, and the captain of the Temple, and the Sadducees” were “grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection of the dead.” The New World Translation limits the meaning of this text, indicating that the apostles were teaching the resurrection of the dead merely “in the case of Jesus.” But this is not what Peter said.

The Emphatic Diaglott reads, “Being grieved because they taught the people, and announced that resurrection from the dead in Jesus.” All of the prophets had foretold the resurrection of the dead, “both of the just and unjust.” What grieved the priests was Peter’s explanation that the resurrection, which the prophets had foretold, was to come through Jesus. They did not like Peter’s claim that Jesus himself had been raised from the dead, and they liked still less his teaching that the resurrected Jesus would return and fulfill the promises of God to raise all the dead during the “times of restitution of all things.” The priests and the ruler of the Temple knew that all God’s holy prophets had foretold such a time of “restitution,” or restoration. We know this from Paul’s words to Felix, when he said: “This I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: and have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.”—Acts 24:14,15

Peter’s reference to the prophecy of Moses concerning “that Prophet” and the fact that “every soul, which will not hear that Prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people” is very enlightening. It shows that the “times of restitution” will see conditions vastly different from what they are now. During the present age, the righteous as well as the wicked are dying. This is illustrated by Jeremiah’s parable concerning the fathers having eaten the “sour grape,” and the “children’s teeth” being “set on edge.”—Jer. 31:29

Jeremiah explains that in “those days,” that is, in the “times of restitution,” this will no longer be true. He asserts that then “every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.” (vs. 30) How well Peter explained this when he said, “It shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that Prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.”—Acts 3:23

Yes, it “shall come to pass.” It was not so in Peter’s day, and it has not yet come to pass. Today the people are still dying because of Adam’s sin. As Peter explained, the time when restitution blessings will flow out to the world and when only willful sinners will die is during Christ’s second presence.

While we believe that our Lord has returned and is now serving “meat in due season” to the household of faith, the restitution of mankind has not yet begun. Evil still goes unchecked, and those who serve the Lord still have the opportunity of suffering and dying with him. They are not protected and kept alive as the righteous will be when kingdom blessings are actually made available to the people.

Then, everyone who dies will die for his own iniquity. Then children will not be condemned to the “second death” because their parents may be unfaithful. Only in the sense that all die in Adam is this true even now, and when the kingdom authority of Christ is actually functioning in the earth, no one will die at all unless individually guilty of willful sin.

Surely “there is a wideness in God’s mercy, like the wideness of the sea”! How abundant and soul-satisfying is the testimony of his Word, which reveals the lengths and breadths and heights and depths of his love and grace. How wonderful that he has made a provision of life for others than ourselves! May the example of his love broaden our own outlook and make us more like him.

Yes, a knowledge of the grace and love of Jehovah inspires us to reverence and love him. The Lord said, “Their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.” (Isa. 29:13) We should delight to proclaim the love of God, and fear should never be used to induce people to believe in him and in his beloved Son. The Lord’s people today, as in the past, are called to show forth his praises, and how better can we do this than by proclaiming the glorious kingdom Gospel of love and grace!